South Africa’s third largest mobile operator, Cell C, has hit back at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for suggestions it owes ZAR107.3 million (US$11.8 million) in licence fees.
HumanIPO reported last month Marian Shinn, communications spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA), had revealed in parliament which companies were guilty of owing ICASA licence fees which amounted to ZAR501 million (US$55.2 million).
Within Shinn’s statement she cited Cell C as owing ZAR107.3 million, but the operator issued a statement today rigorously denying that.
It read: “Cell C has never been advised by ICASA that it owes R107.3 million or any other amount in outstanding licence fees and accordingly Cell C denies that it owes this amount.”
Cell C said ICASA has failed to respond to a letter it sent on May 2 demainding an explanation of their position and said: “It appears to be unable to verify its own information.
ICASA’s failure to respond and set the record straight publicly is having a negative impact on Cell C’s reputation and leaves Cell C with no choice but to make its own public statement in this regard.”
The operator also took a swipe at ICASA’s inability to complete a review of the high cost of communication in South Africa and said its customers were suffering as a result.
